18-year-old identified in fatal Sampson County shooting, three others injured

One person died and three people were injured in a shooting on Tuesday in Sampson County.

On Wednesday, the Sampson County Sheriff's Office identified the person killed as Tabias Darden, 18, of Faison.

The sheriff's office also said a 16-year-old from Faison, 17-year-old from Newton Grove and a 21-year-old man from Clinton were injured in the shooting.

According to authorities, the Sampson County E-911 Center was notified of four gunshot victims around 1:39 p.m. Tuesday at the Sampson Regional Medical Center in Clinton. Authorities said the four victims took themselves to the hospital.

Capt. Eric Pope with the Sampson County Sheriff's Office says it's too early in the investigation to say whether the shootings were gang-related, but it's a possibility.

"They had to have something that brought them all together that led to this activity," he said. "It just didn't happen overnight.

"There were some things that probably led up to it, some indicators that maybe friends, family could have paid attention to, observed maybe to intervene."

Authorities said the hospital went into lockdown around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, which was lifted at 4 p.m., based on the nature of the shooting and “unknown variables involved.” A car was at the hospital with shattered glass and multiple bullet holes.

A preliminary investigation determined the shooting stemmed from an altercation on Boykin Road near Shaun Lane. Joanne Murphy said she witnessed the shooting while she was cleaning her air conditioning unit outside, saying she could've been hit by the gunfire.

"I could hear gunshots in the distance," she said. "I looked up and I heard 'dat dat dat,' like that. It was like fire coming from the gun when he was shooting it."

Murphy said the white car sped off with a black car following behind it, the shooter then tossed the gun out of the car.

"Why would he throw the gun out the window?" Murphy asked.

Pope said investigators collected guns and shell casings from the scene.

"We're trying to put everything together to figure out what actually transpired," he said.

One person died from their injuries, and the hospital was treating three people for their injuries.

According to authorities, the investigation is in the early stages, and they will release more information at an appropriate time.

Meanwhile, Murphy said she hopes more people speak up and share information with authorities.